Titling apparatus, a titling method, and a machine readable medium storing thereon a computer program for titling

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for giving a title to a captured image includes a unit for storing a captured image group including a plurality of captured images, a unit for storing an image capturing time when each of the stored images is captured, a unit for judging an image capturing period and an image capturing season including the stored image capturing time, a unit for storing terms respectively related to a plurality of periods with different time widths each of which includes a period and a season, the term corresponding to the period and the season, and a unit for giving a title to the stored captured image group by using a term related to a period of a wider time width out of the stored terms as a difference between the image capturing time and either the image capturing season or the acquired output time, whichever is longer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Divisional of U.S. Application No.11/356,219 filed on Feb. 17, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,956,905, whichclaims priority to Application No. JP 2005-053060, filed in Japan onFeb. 28, 2005 and JP 2005-053721, filed in Japan on Feb. 28, 2005. Theentire contents of all of the above applications is hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a titling apparatus, a titling method,and a machine readable medium storing thereon a computer program fortitling. More particularly, the present invention relates to a titlingapparatus and a tilting method for giving a title to a captured image,and a machine readable medium storing thereon a computer program for thetilting apparatus.

2. Related Art

A technique for giving a title to an image data on the basis of a resultof inferring a context of the image data from date and time, locationinformation, or the like accompanied with the image data, and previouslyregistered map information, knowledge of seasonal events, knowledge of acalendar, or the like, is known as shown in, for example, JapanesePatent Application Publication No. 2002-10178.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the above Japanese patent application does not disclose atechnique for giving a title to a plurality of image data, which isproper for the image capturing time and a range of image capturingplaces of the plurality of image data, such an a case of giving a titleto an album including a plurality of image data. Therefore, when a userintends to give a title to an album, the user has been required toconduct complicated works such as determining a title proper for a rangeof image capturing time, a range of image capturing places, and thelike, of images included in the album and recording the title in thealbum.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a titlingapparatus, a titling method, and a machine readable medium storingthereon a computer program for titling, which are capable of overcomingthe above drawbacks accompanying the conventional art. The above andother objects can be achieved by combinations described in theindependent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous andexemplary combinations of the present invention.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a titlingapparatus for giving a title to a captured image, includes: a capturedimage storing unit for storing a captured image group include aplurality of captured images; an image capturing time storing unit forstoring image capturing time when each of the plurality of capturedimages stored by the captured image storing unit is captured; an imagecapturing period judging unit for judging an image capturing period andan image capturing season including the image capturing time stored bythe image capturing time storing unit; a period terminology storing unitfor storing terminology related to the period and the season, theterminology corresponding to the period and the season; and a titlingunit for giving a title to the captured image group stored by thecaptured image storing unit by using the terminology stored by theperiod terminology storing unit to be corresponding to the period andthe season including the image capturing period and the image capturingseason judged by the image capturing period judging unit.

The titling apparatus may further include an output time acquiring unitfor acquiring an output time when the plurality of captured imagesstored by the captured image storing unit are required to output, theperiod terminology storing unit may store a plurality of termsrespectively related to a plurality of periods with different timewidths each of which includes a period and a season, the termcorresponding to the period and the season, and the titling unit maygive a title by using a term related to a period of a wider time widthout of the plurality of terms stored by the period terminology storingunit as a difference between the image capturing time included in theimage capturing period and the image capturing season judged by theimage capturing period judging unit and the output time acquired by theoutput time acquiring unit is longer.

The titling apparatus may further include an image capturing locationstoring unit for storing an image capturing location where each of theplurality of captured images stored by the captured image storing unitis captured, an image capturing region judging unit for judging an imagecapturing region including the image capturing location stored by theimage capturing location storing unit; and a region terminology storingunit for storing terminology related to regions include the locations,the terminology corresponding to the regions, and the titling unit maygive the title to the captured image group by further using theterminology corresponded to the location in the image capturing regionjudged by the image capturing region judging unit, the terminology beingstored by the region terminology storing unit.

The titling apparatus may further include a reference location storingunit for storing a predetermined reference location, the regionterminology storing unit may store a plurality of terms respectivelyrelated to a plurality of regions of different sizes include thelocations, the terms corresponding to the locations, and the titlingunit may give the title by using a term related to a region of a largersize out of the plurality of terms stored by the region terminologystoring unit as a difference between the image capturing location,included in the image capturing region judged by the image capturingregion judging unit, and the reference location stored by the referencelocation storing unit is farther.

The titling apparatus may further include an outputting unit foroutputting a plurality of images comprised in the captured image groupstored by the captured image storing unit and a title given by thetitling unit at the same time. The titling apparatus may further includea person to be captured deciding unit for deciding a person to becaptured of the captured image stored by the captured image storingunit, and a viewer deciding unit for deciding a viewer who views thecaptured image output by the outputting unit. The titling unit may givethe title to the captured image group stored by the captured imagestoring unit based on a relationship between the person to be captureddecided by the person to be capture deciding unit and the viewer decidedby the viewer deciding unit, and the outputting unit may output theplurality of images comprised in the captured image group stored by thecaptured image storing unit and the title given by the titling unit atthe same time.

the person to be captured deciding unit may decide each person to becaptured of the plurality of captured images stored by the capturedimage storing unit, and the titling unit may give the title to thecaptured image group stored by the captured image storing unit based ona relationship between the person to be captured of the most capturedimages out of the plurality of persons decided by the person to becaptured deciding unit and the viewer decided by the viewer decidingunit. The titling unit may further include a personal relationshipstoring unit for storing a mutual relationship among a plurality ofpersons, and the titling unit may decide the relationship between theperson to be captured decided by the person to be captured deciding unitand the viewer decided by the viewer deciding unit based on the mutualrelationship among the plurality of persons stored by the personalrelationship storing unit.

The titling apparatus may further include a face image storing unit forstoring a face image of a person corresponded to the person, and theperson to be captured deciding unit may decide the person to be capturedstored by the captured image storing unit by comparing captured imagestored by the captured image storing unit with the face image stored bythe face image storing unit. The titling apparatus may further includean image capturing unit for capturing the viewer who views the capturedimage output by the outputting unit and a face image storing unit forstoring the face image of the person corresponded to the person, and theviewer deciding unit may decide the viewer who views the captured imageoutput by the outputting unit by comparing the viewer image captured bythe image capturing unit with the face image stored by the face imagestoring unit.

The titling apparatus may further include a recording unit for recordinga voice of the viewer who views the captured image output by theoutputting unit and a voice storing unit for storing the voice of aperson corresponded to the person, and the viewer deciding unit maydecide the viewer who views the captured image output by the outputtingunit by comparing the voice recorded by the recording unit with thevoice stored by the voice storing unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a titlingmethod for giving a title on a captured image, includes: a capturedimage storing step of storing a captured image group include a pluralityof captured images; an image capturing time storing step of storing animage capturing time when each of the plurality of the captured imagesstored in the captured image storing step is captured; an imagecapturing period judging step of judging an image capturing period andan image capturing season including the image capturing time stored inthe image capturing time storing step; a period terminology storing stepof storing terminology related to the period and the season, theterminology corresponding to the period and the season; and a titlingstep of giving a title to the captured image group stored in thecaptured image storing step by using the terminology stored in theperiod terminology storing step to be corresponding to the period andthe season including the image capturing period and the image capturingseason judged in the image capturing period judging step.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a machinereadable medium storing thereon a computer program for a titlingapparatus for giving a title to a captured image is provided, whereinthe program makes the tiling apparatus functions as: a captured imagestoring unit for storing captured image group include a plurality ofcaptured images; an image capturing time storing unit for storing animage capturing time when each of the plurality of captured imagesstored by the captured image storing unit is captured; an imagecapturing period judging unit for judging an image capturing period andan image capturing season including the image capturing time stored bythe image capturing time storing unit; a period terminology storing unitfor storing terminology related to the period and the season, theterminology corresponding to the period and the season; and a titlingunit for giving a title to the captured image group stored by thecaptured image storing unit by using the terminology stored by theperiod terminology storing unit, to be corresponding to the period andthe season including the image capturing period and the image capturingseason judged by the image capturing period judging unit.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a titlingapparatus for giving a title to a captured image, includes: a capturedimage storing unit for storing captured image group include a pluralityof captured images; an image capturing location storing unit for storingan image capturing location where each of the plurality of capturedimages stored by the captured image storing unit is captured; an imagecapturing region judging unit for judging an image capturing regionincluding the image capturing location stored by the image capturinglocation storing unit; a region terminology storing unit for storingterminology related to regions including the locations, the terminologycorresponding to the regions; and a titling unit for giving a title tothe captured image group stored by the captured image storing unit byusing the terminology corresponded to the location in the imagecapturing region judged by the image capturing region judging unit, theterminology being stored by the region terminology storing unit.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, titling methodfor giving a title to a captured image, includes: a captured imagestoring step of storing captured image group include a plurality ofcaptured images; an image capturing location storing step of storing animage capturing location where each of the plurality of captured imagesstored in the captured image storing step is captured; an imagecapturing region judging step of judging an image capturing regionincluding the image capturing location stored in the image capturinglocation storing step; a region terminology storing step of storingterminology related to regions including the locations, the terminologycorresponding to the regions; and a titling step of giving a title tothe captured image group stored in the captured image storing step byusing the terminology corresponded to the location in the imagecapturing region judged in the image capturing region judging step, theterminology being stored in the region terminology storing step.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a machinereadable medium storing thereon a computer program for a titlingapparatus for giving a title to a captured image is provided, whereinthe program makes the tiling apparatus functions as: a captured imagestoring unit for storing captured image group include a plurality ofcaptured images; an image capturing location storing unit for storing animage capturing location where each of the plurality of captured imagesstored by the captured image storing unit is captured; an imagecapturing region judging unit for judging an image capturing regionincluding the image capturing location stored by the image capturinglocation storing unit; a region terminology storing unit for storingterminology related to regions including the locations, the terminologycorresponding to the regions; and a titling unit for giving a title tothe captured image group stored by the captured image storing unit byusing the terminology corresponded to the location in the imagecapturing region judged by the image capturing region judging unit, theterminology being stored by the region terminology storing unit.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a titlingapparatus for giving a title to a captured image, includes: a capturedimage storing unit for storing a captured image; a person to be captureddeciding unit for deciding a person to be captured of the captured imagestored by the captured image storing unit; an outputting unit foroutputting the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit;a viewer deciding unit for deciding a viewer who views the capturedimage output by the outputting unit; a titling unit for giving a titleto the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit based ona relationship between the person to be captured decided by the personto be capture deciding unit and the viewer decided by the viewerdeciding unit; and an output controlling unit for making the outputtingunit output the title given to the captured image by the titling unit aswell as the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, a titlingmethod for giving a title to a captured image, includes: a capturedimage storing step of storing a captured image; a person to be captureddeciding step of deciding a person to be captured of the captured imagestored in the captured image storing step; an outputting step ofoutputting the captured image stored in the captured image storing step;a viewer deciding step of deciding a viewer who views the captured imageoutput in the outputting step; a titling step of giving a title to thecaptured image stored in the captured image storing step based on arelationship between the person to be captured decided in the person tobe capture deciding step and the viewer decided in the viewer decidingstep; and an output controlling step of making the title given to thecaptured image in the titling step as well as the captured image storedin the captured image storing step output in the outputting step.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a machinereadable medium storing thereon a computer program for a titlingapparatus for giving a title to a captured image is provided, whereinthe program makes the tiling apparatus functions as: a captured imagestoring unit for storing a captured image; a person to be captureddeciding unit for deciding a person to be captured of the captured imagestored by the captured image storing unit; an outputting unit foroutputting the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit;a viewer deciding unit for deciding a viewer who views the capturedimage output by the outputting unit; a titling unit for giving a titleto the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit based ona relationship between the person to be captured decided by the personto be capture deciding unit and the viewer decided by the viewerdeciding unit; and an output controlling unit for making the outputtingunit output the title given to the captured image by the titling unit aswell as the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit.

The summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessaryfeatures of the present invention. The present invention may also be asub-combination of the features described above.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a titlingapparatus for enabling to give a title which is proper for a user to animage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of conditions for using a titling apparatus 100.

FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the titling apparatus 100.

FIG. 3 shows an example of data stored by a period terminology storingunit 270 in a format of table.

FIG. 4 shows an example of data stored by a region terminology storingunit 290 in a format of table.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a captured image and a title given to thecaptured image.

FIG. 6 shows an example of data stored by a face image storing unit 212in a format of table.

FIG. 7 shows an example of data stored by a voice storing unit 218 in aformat of table.

FIG. 8 shows an example of data stored by a personal relationshipstoring unit 284 in a format of table.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a process flow of titling.

FIG. 10 shows a hardware configuration of the titling apparatus 100.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described based on the preferred embodiments,which do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, butexemplify the invention. All of the features and the combinationsthereof described in the embodiment are not necessarily essential to theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows an example of conditions for using a titling apparatus 100according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows apersonal computer forgiving a title to a captured image and displayingthe captured image on an outputting unit 110 such as a liquid crystaldisplay, as an example of the titling apparatus 100. The titlingapparatus 100 stores a plurality of images captured by using a digitalstill camera or the like, together with the image capturing place andthe image capturing time of every images. Further, when displaying animage selected by a user 180, the titling apparatus 100 records theimage together with a title related with the image capturing time andplace of the image. Then, the titling apparatus 100 displays thecomlocation of the image and the title on the outputting unit 110. Forexample, when displaying an image captured at Kinkakuzi in the spring of2004, the titling apparatus 100 displays the image together with a titlesuch as “Spring of 2004, at Tokyo.” Further, the titling apparatus 100may give a title to each of a plurality of images or a title to aplurality of images such as an album including the plurality of images.

Further, the titling apparatus 100 gives different titles according aplurality of images displayed at one time on the screen of theoutputting unit 110. For example, the titling apparatus 100 may givetitles of, for example, “May 2004, at Kinkakuzi” and “May 2004, at theKyoto station” to two images captured at Kinkakuzi and the Kyotostation, respectively, each of which defines the image capturing timeand the image capturing place of each image, instead of giving the sametitle of “Spring of 2004, at Kyoto” to the images. Further, in case thesame titles are given to a plurality of albums, the titling apparatus100 gives a new title to each of the plurality albums, the new titleusing terminology defining a range of image capturing time and a rangeof image capturing places of images included in the album, in order togive different titles to the plurality albums.

Further, the titling apparatus 100 identifies a person to be captured ofan image by the person's face shown in the image. Further, the titlingapparatus 100 identifies a user 180 who is viewing the image by a faceof the user 180 captured by an image capturing unit 102 provided in thetitling apparatus 100 and/or a voice of the user 180 recorded by arecording unit 104 provided in the titling apparatus 100. Then, thetitling apparatus 100 gives a title to the image corresponding to apersonal relationship between the user 180 and the person to becaptured. For example, when the titling apparatus 100 judges that theperson to be captured is a grandchild of the user 180, it gives a titleof “Spring of 2004, with the grandchild at Kyoto” to the image.

Further, the titling apparatus 100 may be a device for displaying imagessuch as an electronic photo-stand, an HD TV, as well as a personalcomputer. Furthermore, the titling apparatus 100 may be a digital stillcamera, a cellular phone with a camera, a PDA, or the like, and it maycapture an image, give a title to the image, and display the image withthe title on its screen. Further, the titling apparatus 100 may be anapparatus for printing an image such as a printer and printout the imagewith a title. In addition, the titling apparatus 100 may manage aplurality of images on the basis of a title given to the images. Forexample, the titling apparatus 100 may manage a plurality of images bystoring the images in a directory of which name is a title given to theimages.

According to the titling apparatus 100 described above, it is possibleto give a proper title to an image automatically and provide the imagewith the title to the user 180. By this, the user 180 can enjoy imageswithout trouble in determining titles proper for contexts of a largenumber of images and recording the titles.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a block configuration of the titlingapparatus 100. The titling apparatus 100 includes an image capturingunit 102, a recording unit 104, an outputting unit 110, a captured imagestoring unit 210, a face image storing unit 212, a person to be captureddeciding unit 214, a viewer deciding unit 216, a voice storing unit 218,an output controlling unit 220, an output time acquiring unit 222, aperiod terminology storing unit 270, a period terminology selecting unit272, an image capturing period judging unit 274, an image capturing timestoring unit 276, a titling unit 282, a personal relationship storingunit 284, a reference location storing unit 286, a region terminologystoring unit 290, a region terminology selecting unit 292, an imagecapturing region judging unit 294, and an image capturing locationstoring unit 296.

The captured image storing unit 210 stores a captured image groupincluding a plurality of captured images. The image capturing locationstoring unit 296 stores an image capturing location where each of theplurality of captured images stored by the captured image storing unit210. Further, the image capturing time storing unit 276 stores imagecapturing time when each of the plurality of captured images stored bythe captured image storing unit 210. For example, the captured imagestoring unit 210 stores each of the plurality of captured images with animage ID corresponding to and identifying the captured images. Further,the image capturing location storing unit 296 stores the latitude andthe longitude received from a GPS satellite at the time when thecaptured image has been captured, to be corresponding to the image ID ofthe captured image. Further, the image capturing time storing unit 276stores the image capturing time when the captured image has beencaptured, to be corresponding to the image ID of the captured image.

The image capturing period judging unit 274 judges an image capturingperiod and an image capturing season including the image capturing timestored by the image capturing time storing unit 276. The image capturingperiod judging unit 274 judges a period of time between the oldest imagecapturing time and the most recent image capturing time out of the imagecapturing time when the plurality of captured images included in thecaptured image group have been captured stored by the image capturingtime storing unit 276.

The period terminology storing unit 270 stores terminology related to aperiod and a season to be corresponding to the period and the season.Further, the period terminology storing unit 270 stores a plurality ofterms each of which is related to each of a plurality of periods withdifferent time widths including a period and a season, to becorresponding to the period and the season. For example, as terminologyrelated to October, 2004, the period terminology storing unit 270 storesterms, such as “October,” “fall,” and “2004,” corresponding to aplurality of periods with different time widths.

The period terminology selecting unit 272 selects a term stored in theperiod terminology storing unit 270 to correspond to a time within animage capturing period including image capturing time of a plurality ofcaptured images included in the captured image group stored by thecaptured image storing unit 210. Specifically, the period terminologyselecting unit 272 selects a term stored by the period terminologystoring unit 270 to correspond to a period including image capturingtime stored by the image capturing time storing unit 276. Morespecifically, the period terminology selecting unit 272 selects a termstored in the period terminology storing unit 270 to correspond to theimage capturing period and the image capturing season judged by theimage capturing period judging unit 274. For example, in case the imagecapturing period judging unit 274 judges that an image captured inOctober is stored in the captured image storing unit 210, the periodterminology selecting unit 272 selects “October” out of the terms storedby the period terminology storing unit 270.

The titling unit 282 gives a title to the captured image group stored bythe captured image storing unit 210, using the term stored in the periodterminology storing unit 270 to correspond to a period and a seasonincluding the image capturing period and the image capturing seasonjudged by the image capturing period judging unit 274. Specifically, thetitling unit 282 gives a title to the captured image stored by thecaptured image storing unit 210 using the term selected by the periodterminology selecting unit 272.

The outputting unit 110 outputs a plurality of images included in thecaptured image group stored by the captured image storing unit 210 andthe title given by the titling unit 282 at the same time. Specifically,the output control unit 220 makes the outputting unit 110 output thecaptured image stored in the captured image storing unit 210 and thetitle given by the titling unit 282. Further, the outputting unit 110may be a display device for displaying an image such as a liquid crystaldisplay or a print device for printing and outputting an image. Further,the outputting unit 110 may output the title on a device different fromthe device displaying the image.

The output time acquiring unit 222 acquires output time when output of aplurality of captured images stored by the captured image storing unit210 has been required. Then, as a difference between the image capturingtime included in the image capturing period and the image capturingseason judged by the image capturing period judging unit 274 and theoutput time acquired by the output time acquiring unit 222 is longer,the titling unit 282 gives a title using a term related to a period witha broader time width out of a plurality of terms stored by the periodterminology storing unit 270.

For example, in case the captured image is required to be output inwinter of 2004, the period terminology selecting unit 272 selects “Fall”stored by the period terminology storing unit 270, and, in case thecaptured image is required to be output five years later, it selects“2004” related to a period with a broader time width. Thus, the periodterminology selecting unit 272 can provide the titling unit 282 with aterm which can be easily understood by the user 180.

The capturing region judging unit 294 judges an image capturing regionincluding the image capturing location stored by the image capturinglocation storing unit 296. For example, capturing region judging unit294 judges a region including a plurality of image capturing locationsstored by the image capturing location storing unit 296 as an imagecapturing location of the captured image group including the pluralityof captured images.

The region terminology storing unit 290 stores terminology related to aregion including a location to be corresponding to the location.Further, the region terminology storing unit 290 stores a plurality ofterms related to regions of different sizes including a location,respectively, to be corresponding to the location. For example, theregion terminology storing unit 290 stores terms related to a pluralityof regions of different sizes such as “Kinkakuzi,” “Kyoto City,” “KyotoPrefecture,” “Japan,” and the like, to be corresponding to the latitudeand the longitude of the location of Kinkakuzi.

The region terminology selecting unit 292 selects a term stored by theregion terminology storing unit 290 to correspond to a location withinan image capturing region including image capturing locations of aplurality of captured image included in the captured image group storedby the captured image storing unit 210. Specifically, the regionterminology selecting unit 292 selects a term stored by the regionterminology storing unit 290 to correspond to the image capturinglocation stored by the image capturing location storing unit 296. Morespecifically, the region terminology selecting unit 292 selects a termstored by the region terminology storing unit 290 to correspond to theimage capturing region judged by the image capturing region judging unit294.

The titling unit 282 gives a title to the captured image group stored bythe captured image storing unit 210, by using further the term stored bythe 290 to correspond to a location within the image capturing regionjudged by the image capturing region judging unit 294. Specifically, thetitling unit 282 gives a title to the captured image group stored by thecaptured image storing unit 210 by using the term selected by the regionterminology selecting unit 292.

The reference location storing unit 286 stores a predetermined referencelocation. Then, as a difference between the image capturing locationincluded in the image capturing region judged by the image capturingregion judging unit 294 and the reference location stored by thereference location storing unit 286 is farther, the titling unit 282gives a title using a term related to a larger region out of a pluralityof terms stored by the region terminology storing unit 290. For example,the reference location storing unit 286 stores a location, which is abase of life of the user 180, such as the location of the house of theuser 180 having the titling apparatus 100. Then, the region terminologyselecting unit 292 selects a term related to a larger region as theimage capturing location becomes more distant from the location of thehouse of the user 180, for example, in the order of “Kyoto City,” “KyotoPrefecture,” and “Japan.” For example, in case a user 180 who lives in acountry other than Japan views an image captured at Kinkakuzi, thetitling unit 282 titles gives a title of “Memory of Japan” to the image.Then, for example, in case a user 180 who lives in Kyoto views the sameimage, the titling unit 282 gives to the image a title of not “Memory ofJapan” which makes the user 180 feels a sense of incongruity but “Memoryof Kinkakuzi” which is natural for the user 180.

The face image storing unit 212 stores face images of persons in acorresponding manner. The person to be captured deciding unit 214decides a person to be captured of the captured image stored by thecaptured image storing unit 210. Specifically, the person to be captureddeciding unit 214 decides a person to be captured of the captured imagestored by the captured image storing unit 210 by comparing the capturedimage stored by the captured image storing unit 210 and the face imagestored by the face image storing unit 212.

The image capturing unit 102 captures an image of a viewer who views acaptured image output by the outputting unit 110. The viewer decidingunit 216 decides a viewer who views a captured image output by theoutputting unit 110. Specifically, the viewer deciding unit 216 decidesa viewer who views a captured image output by the outputting unit 110 bycomparing the image of the viewer captured by the image capturing unit102 and the face image stored by the face image storing unit 212.

The voice storing unit 218 stores voices of persons in a correspondingmanner. The recording unit 104 records a voice of the viewer who viewsthe captured image output by the outputting unit 110. Then, the viewerdeciding unit 216 decides the viewer who views the captured image outputby the outputting unit 110 by comparing the voice recorded by therecording unit 104 and the voice stored by the voice storing unit 218.For example, the voice storing unit 218 stores voiceprint data ofpersons in a corresponding manner. Then, the viewer deciding unit 216decide the viewer by combining a voiceprint of the voice recorded by therecording unit 104 and a voiceprint stored by the voice storing unit218.

The personal relationship storing unit 284 stores personal relationshipsamong a plurality of persons. On the basis of a personal relationshipbetween the person to be captured decided by the person to be captureddeciding unit 214 and the viewer decided by the viewer deciding unit216, the titling unit 282 gives a title to the captured image groupstored by the captured image storing unit 210. Specifically, the titlingunit 282 decides a relationship between the person to be captureddecided by the person to be captured deciding unit 214 and the viewerdecided by the viewer deciding unit 216 on the basis of therelationships among the plurality of persons. For example, the personalrelationship storing unit 284 stores personal relationships such as“Father” and “Brother.” Then, the titling unit 282 gives a titleincluding a personal relationship stored in the personal relationshipstoring unit 284 to the image.

Further, the person to be captured deciding unit 214 decides a person tobe captured of each of the plurality of captured images stored by thecaptured image storing unit 210. Then, the titling unit 282 gives atitle to the captured image group stored by the captured image storingunit 210 on the basis of a relationship between the person of the mostcaptured images and the viewer decided by the viewer deciding unit 216.By this, even if a visitor who has nothing to do with the user 180 isshown in an image captured at a tourist spot, the person to be captureddeciding unit 214 can properly decide a person to be captured who theuser 180 wants to find.

Further, in case the titling unit 282 gives the same titles to a firstand a second captured images, the period terminology selecting unit 272selects a first term related to a period with a time width shorter thanthat of the term previously given to the first captured image out of theterms stored by the period terminology storing unit 270 to correspond tothe image capturing time of the first captured image. Then, theterminology selecting unit 272 further selects a second term related toa period with a time width shorter than that of the term previouslygiven to the second captured image out of the terms stored by the periodterminology storing unit 270 to correspond to the image capturing timeof the second captured image. Then, the titling unit 282 gives a newtitle using the first term selected by terminology selecting unit 272 tothe first captured image. Further, the titling unit 282 gives a newtitle using the second term selected by the terminology selecting unit272 to the second captured image.

Further, in case a title given to a second captured image group, such asan album previously made by the user 180 and a title given to a firstcaptured image group, such as an album newly made by the user 180, arethe same, the period terminology selecting unit 272 newly selects a termrelated to a period with a time width shorter than that of the termgiven to the first captured image group. Then, the titling unit 282gives a new title using the term newly selected by the periodterminology selecting unit 272 to the first captured image group.Further, the period terminology selecting unit 272 selects a term whichis related to a period with a time width shorter than that of the termgiven to the second captured image group and which is different from theterm used when the new title is given to the first captured image group.Then, the titling unit 282 gives a new title using the term selected bythe period terminology selecting unit 272 to the second captured imagegroup.

Further, in case the titling unit 282 gives the same titles to a firstand a second captured images, the region terminology selecting unit 292selects a first term related to a region of a size smaller than that ofthe term previously given to the first captured image out of the termsstored by the region terminology storing unit 290 to correspond to theimage capturing location of the first captured image. Then, the regionterminology selecting unit 292 further selects a second term related toa region of a size smaller than that of the term previously given to thesecond captured image out of the terms stored by the region terminologystoring unit 290 to correspond to the image capturing location of thesecond captured image. Then, the titling unit 282 gives a new titleusing the term newly selected by the region terminology selecting unit292 to the first captured image. Then, the titling unit 282 gives a newtitle using the term selected by the region terminology selecting unit292 to the second captured image group.

Further, in case a title given to a second captured image group, such asan album previously made by the user 180 and a title given to a firstcaptured image group, such as an album newly made by the user 180, arethe same, the region terminology selecting unit 292 newly selects a termrelated to a region of a size smaller than that of the term given to thefirst captured image group. Then, the titling unit 282 gives a new titleusing the term newly selected by the region terminology selecting unit292 to the first captured image group. Further, the region terminologyselecting unit 292 selects a term which is related to a region of a sizesmaller than that of the term given to the second captured image groupand which is different from the term used when the new title is given tothe first captured image group. Then, the titling unit 282 gives a newtitle using the term selected by the region terminology selecting unit292 to the second captured image group. By this, the titling apparatusdoes not give to a newly made album a title which is the same as thatgiven to an existing album. Therefore, the user 180 can easilydistinguish each of albums from the others.

According to the titling apparatus 100 described above, it is possibleto provide an image to which a proper title corresponding to the placewhere the image has been captured, the time when the image has beencaptured, and the person to be captured and/or the viewer of the image,is given. Further, the user 180 can enjoy conveniently an image to whicha proper title is given without conducting complicated works such asentering a title to the image with his or her hands. Further, since thetitling unit 282 gives a different title for each of a plurality ofalbums and/or a plurality of images, the user 180 can easily distinguishthe plurality of albums and/or the plurality of images from each other.

FIG. 3 shows an example of data stored by the period terminology storingunit 270 in a format of table. The period terminology storing unit 270stores a term related each of a plurality of periods with differentseasons and time widths. Further, the period terminology storing unit270 stores the terms. For example, the period terminology storing unit270 stores terms of “Athletic Meet,” “October 9,” “October,” “Fall,” and“2004” as terms related to Oct. 9, 2004. For example, the periodterminology selecting unit 272 can select the term of “October 9” as atitle to give to an image captured on October 9 and further select theterm of “Athletic Meet.” Further, for example, the period terminologyselecting unit 272 can select a term of “Athletic Meet on October 9.”Further, for example, the period terminology selecting unit 272 canselect a term of “Athletic Meet in October” as an image captured onOctober 9 and 10. Therefore, the period terminology storing unit 270 canprovide a proper term corresponding to a time range during which aplurality of images are captured to the titling unit 282.

Further, the period terminology storing unit 270 mat store a termshowing a season and a period matching to the present time. For example,the period terminology storing unit 270 stores a term of “This Year” fora point of time in the year of 2004 as a term of a time range showingthe year of 2004. Then, the period terminology storing unit 270 maychange a term stored therein as time goes by. For example, the periodterminology storing unit 270 changes the term a time range showing theyear of 2004 to “Last Year” when it turns 2005. By this, the periodterminology storing unit 270 can provide a proper term matching with thesense of time of a human being to the titling unit 282.

Further, the period terminology storing unit 270 may be embodied byterminology data stored by a software for making the titling apparatus100 function or in a recording medium. Further, the period terminologystoring unit 270 may receive a term input by the user 180 and store theterm. By this, the period terminology storing unit 270 can provide aterm corresponding to each user 180 such as “Birthday” to the titlingunit 282.

FIG. 4 shows an example of data stored by the region terminology storingunit 290 in a format of table. The region terminology storing unit 290stores a term related to each of a plurality of regions of differentsizes, to be corresponding to information on the latitude and thelongitude. For example, the region terminology storing unit 290 stores“Kyoto Station,” “Kyoto City,” “Kyoto Prefecture,” and “Japan,” to becorresponding to information on the latitude and the longitude of Tokyostation. At this time, the region terminology selecting unit 292 mayselect “Kyoto Station” for an image captured at Kyoto station, forexample. Further, for example, the region terminology selecting unit 292can give a title of “Kyoto City” to images captured at “Kinkakuzi” and“Kyoto Station.” As a result, the region terminology storing unit 290can provide a proper term including a plurality of regions where aplurality of images are captured to the titling unit 282.

Further, the reference location storing unit 286 stores a predeterminedreference location, for example, the latitude and the longitude of thelocation of the house of the user 180. At this time, for example, whenthe house of the user 180 is in a country other than Japan, the regionterminology storing unit 290 can provide the term of “Japan” to thetitling unit 282 as a term for a title to be given to an image capturedat Kinkakuzi. Further, when a user 180 whose house is in Kyotoprefecture views the same image, the region terminology storing unit 290can provide the term of “Kinkakuzi” to the titling unit 282. As aresult, for example, when a user 180 whose house is in a country otherthan Japan views an image captured at Kinkakuzi, a title of “Memory ofJapan in 2004” is given to the image by the titling unit 282. Then, whena user 180 whose house is in Kyoto prefecture views the same image, thetitling unit 282 gives to the image a title of not “Memory of Japan in2004” which makes the user 180 feels a sense of incongruity but “Memoryof Kinkakuzi in 2004” which is natural for the user 180.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a title given to a captured image. Accordingto this example, the captured image storing unit 210 stores imagescaptured at the time of t501˜503 of April of 2004 and the time oft504˜t506 of May of 2004. Further, the image capturing location storingunit 296 stores the latitude and the longitude of the image capturinglocations of the images captured at the time of t501˜503 at Kinkakuzi,the images captured at the time of t504 and t505 at Kiyomizudera, andthe image captured at the time of t506 at Kyoto station.

In case the titling apparatus 100 is required to output the imagescaptured at the time of t501˜503 at the time of t507 which is June of2004, the titling unit 282 gives a title of “in April at Kinkakuzi” tothe images. Further, in case the titling apparatus 100 is required tooutput the images captured at the time of t504 and t505 at the time oft507, a title of “in May at Kiyomizudera” is given to the images.Further, in case the titling apparatus 100 is required to output theimages captured at the time of t504˜t506 at the time of t507, a termshowing a region including the image capturing location, for example,“Kyoto City” is selected from the region terminology storing unit 290and a title “in May at Kyoto City” is given to the images.

Further, in case the titling apparatus 100 is required to output theimages captured at the time of t501˜503 at the time of t508 in 2005, thetitling apparatus 100 selects a term related to a time range with a timewidth broader than that of “May,” for example, “2004” from the periodterminology storing unit 270 and a title of “in 2004 at Kinkakuzi” isgiven to the images. Similarly, at the time of t508, the titling unit282 gives the titles of “in 2004 at Kiyomizudera” and “in 2004 at KyotoCity” to the images captured at the time of t504˜505 and the imagescaptured at the time of t504˜t506, respectively. Further, incase theuser 180 sets the reference location in the reference location storingunit 286 to a country other than Japan, the titling apparatus 100 givesa title of “in 2004 in Japan” to the images captured at the time oft504˜t506 and output the images. As described above, the titlingapparatus 100 can give to an image a title which makes the user 180easily understand the image capturing place and the image capturing timeof the image.

FIG. 6 shows an example of data stored by the face image storing unit212 in a format of table. The face image storing unit 212 stores a faceimage which is generated by capturing an image of the face of a personto be corresponding to a person ID for identifying the person. Further,the face image storing unit 212 may store a face image captured andrecorded by the image capturing unit 102. In addition, the face imagestoring unit 212 may extract a face image of a person from a region ofthe image stored by the captured image storing unit 210 which isselected by the user 180 and store it. Further, the face image storingunit 212 may store a feature amount extracted from a face image insteadof the face image itself. For example, the face image storing unit 212may store a contour shape of a face, the shape of distinguished parts ofthe face such as eyes, a nose, and a mouth, a location of each of thedistinguished parts, or a positional relationship between thedistinguished parts.

Further, the viewer deciding unit 216 extracts a feature amount of theface of the viewer from the image captured by the image capturing unit102, compares the feature amount with the feature amount of the faceimage stored by the face image storing unit 212, and decides an personID of the viewer. Similarly, the person to be captured deciding unit 214may extract a feature amount of a face image of an object shown in thecaptured image stored by the captured image storing unit 210 and decidea person ID of the person to be captured by comparing the feature amountwith the feature amount stored by the face image storing unit 212.Further, the viewer deciding unit 216 and the person to be captureddeciding unit 214 may decide a region including the face of a person byextracting a region of a color nearly a skin color and extract a featureamount of the face on the basis of the contour of the object by using anedge extraction for the region.

Further, the person to be captured deciding unit 214 may decide a personID of a person to be captured by comparing an image of a predeterminedrange including the center of the captured image with the face image.Further, the person to be captured deciding unit 214 may extract a faceimage of the person to be captured from an object of a region of whichfrequency is larger than that of the predetermined region for thecaptured image. Further, the person to be captured deciding unit 214 maydetermine person IDs of a plurality of persons to be captured shown inthe capture image.

FIG. 7 shows an example of data stored by the voice storing unit 218 ina format of table. The voice storing unit 218 stores a voiceprint dataacquired from a voice of a person to be corresponding to a person ID ofthe person. Further, it is desirable that the voice storing unit 218stores voiceprint data extracted from the person's voice recorded by therecording unit 104. Then, the viewer deciding unit 216 decides aperson's ID of the viewer by extracting voiceprint data from the voicerecorded by the recording unit 104 and comparing the voiceprint datawith the voiceprint data stored by the voice storing unit 218.

FIG. 8 shows an example of data stored by the personal relationshipstoring unit 284 in a format of table. The personal relationship storingunit 284 stores a person ID for identifying a person, a person ID foridentifying a person different from the person, and a relationship ofthe persons. According to the example of FIG. 8, the personalrelationship storing unit 284 stores “Brother” as a personalrelationship of a person ID #602 to a person of a person ID #601.Further, the personal relationship storing unit 284 stores “Father” as apersonal relationship of a person ID #701 to the person of the person ID#601. Further, the personal relationship storing unit 284 stores“Friend” as a personal relationship of a person ID #702 to the person ofthe person ID #701.

Then, the titling unit 282 decides a relationship between a viewer and aperson to be captured on the basis of the person IDs of the viewer andthe person decided by the person to be captured deciding unit 214 andthe viewer deciding unit 216, respectively, and the relationship storedby the personal relationship storing unit 284. Then, on the basis of therelationship, the titling unit 282 gives a title including a termshowing the relationship to the image. For example, in case the vieweris the person identified by #601 and the person to be captured is theperson identified by #602, the tiling unit 282 gives a title including“Brother” to the image. Further, for example, in case the viewer is theperson identified by #601 and the person to be captured is the personidentified by #702, the tiling unit 282 gives a title including “Friendof Father” to the image. Further, in case the viewer decided by theviewer deciding unit 216 is the same person as the person to be captureddecided by the person to be captured deciding unit 214, a titleincluding “I,” for example, to the image. Further, in case the viewerdeciding unit 216 decides that a plurality of persons to be capturedincluding the viewer are shown in the image, the titling unit 282 maygive a title indicating that the viewer is included in the image as aperson to be captured, such as, “with Brother,” for example.

Further, the titling unit 282 may include a title template forgenerating a title. For example, the titling unit 282 may include atitle template for determining a title to which the period terminologyselected by the period terminology selecting unit 272, the regionterminology selected by the region terminology selecting unit 292, andthe relationship terminology decided by the viewer and the person to becaptured are applied. For example, by using a title template of[“relationship terminology” of “period terminology” at “regionterminology”], the titling unit 282 generates a title of “Brother of2004, at Kinkakuzi.” Further, in case the viewer is included in theplurality of persons to be captured decided by the person to be captureddeciding unit 214, the titling unit 282 may use a title template of[“period terminology,” at “region terminology” with “relationterminology”] to generate a title of “2004, at Kinkakuzi with Brother.”

FIG. 9 shows an example of a process flow of titling. The titling unit282 decides a person to be captured of a captured image output by theoutputting unit 110 by receiving a person ID of a person included in thecaptured image from the person to be captured deciding unit 214 (S902).Further, in case the titling apparatus 100 gives a title to a pluralityof images, the person to be captured deciding unit 214 acquires a personID of a person included in each of the plurality of images and thetitling unit 282 decides a person ID acquired from the most images outof the person IDs received from the person to be captured deciding unit214 as a person ID of a person to be captured.

Then, the titling unit 282 decides a viewer by receiving a person ID ofthe viewer from the viewer deciding unit 216 (S904). Then, the titlingunit 282 decides a relationship of the person to be captured to theviewer from the data stored in the personal relationship storing unit284 (S906). Then, the titling unit 282 determines a term showing therelationship of the person to be captured to the viewer (S908).

Further, the image capturing period judging unit 274 judges an imagecapturing period and an image capturing season when a captured imageoutput by the outputting unit 110 has been captured (S910). Then, on thebasis of the image capturing period and the image capturing seasonjudged in S910, the period terminology selecting unit 272 selects a termrelated to the period and the season from the period terminology storingunit 270 (S912). Further, the image capturing region judging unit 294judges an image capturing region where the captured image output by theoutputting unit 110 has been captured (S914). Then, on the basis of theimage capturing region judged in S914, the region terminology selectingunit 292 selects a term related to the image capturing region from theregion terminology storing unit 290 (S916).

Then, the titling unit 282 determines a title using the terms selectedin S908, S912, and S916 for the image output by the outputting unit 110(S918). Then, the titling unit 282 judges whether or not the same titlesare given to a plurality of images and/or a plurality of image groups(S920). At this time, in case of giving a title to each of the pluralityof images output by the outputting unit 110, the titling unit 282 mayjudges whether or not the title given to each image and/or each imagegroup is the same as that of others. In addition, in case the outputtingunit 110 printouts images and titles to a printing medium, the titlingunit 282 may judges whether or not the same titles are given to aplurality of images output on the recording medium.

In S920, in case it is judged that titles given to the plurality ofimages and/or the plurality of image group are not the same, the titlingunit 282 sends titles which should be given to the images to the outputcontrolling unit 220 and the output controlling unit 220 makes theoutputting unit 110 output the images and the titles (S922). Further, incase it is judged that the same titles are given to the plurality ofimages and/or the plurality of image group, the period terminologyselecting unit 272 selects a new term which is different from the termselected in S912 and of which time width is shorter than that of theterm (S924). At this time, the period terminology selecting unit 272selects a new term for each of the images to which the same titles aregiven in S920.

Then, the region terminology selecting unit 292 selects a new term whichis different from the term selected in S916 and of which size is smallerthan that of the term (S926). Further, the period terminology selectingunit 272 selects a new term for each of the plurality of images and/orthe plurality of image groups judged to be given with the same titles inS920. Then, the titling unit 282 determines a new title for S918 usingthe terms selected in S924 and S926. By this, the titling apparatus 100can provide a different title for each of a plurality of images and/or aplurality of image groups and provide the user 180 with them.

FIG. 10 shows a hardware configuration of the titling apparatus 100according to the present embodiment. The titling apparatus 100 includesa CPU peripheral part comprising a CPU 1505, a RAM 1520, a graphiccontroller 1575, and a display apparatus 1580 which are connected witheach other by a host controller 1582, an input and output partcomprising a communication interface 1530 connected to the hostcontroller 1582 by an input and output controller 1584 (“I/O controller1584”), a hard disk drive 1540, and a CD-ROM drive 1560, and a legacyinput and output part comprising a ROM 1510 connected to the I/Ocontroller 1584, a flexible disk drive 1550, and an input and outputchip 1570 (“I/O chip 1570”).

The host controller 1582 connects the RAM 1520 with the CPU 1505 havingaccess to the RAM 1520 at a high transmission rate and the graphiccontroller 1575. The CPU 1505 operates and performs control of each parton the basis of programs stored in the ROM 1510 and the RAM 1520. Thegraphic controller 1575 acquires image data which is generated on aframe buffer provided in the RAM 1520 by the CPU 1505, etc. and displaysit on the display apparatus 1580. Instead, the graphic controller 1575may include a frame buffer storing an image data generated by the CPU1505, etc. therein.

The I/O controller 1584 connects the host controller 1582 with the harddisk drive 1540, the communication interface 1530, and the CD-ROM drive1560, which are relatively high-speed I/O apparatus. The hard disk drive1540 stores a program and data used by the CPU 1505. The communicationinterface 1530 communicates with a network communication apparatus 1598and transfers a program or data. The CD-ROM drive 1560 retrieves aprogram or data from a CD-ROM 1595 and provides the hard disk drive 1540and the communication interface 1530 with it via the RAM 1520.

Further, the I/O controller 1584 is connected with the ROM 1510 and arelatively low-speed I/O apparatus such as the flexible disk drive 1550and the I/O chip 1570. The ROM 1510 stores a booting program executedwhen the titling apparatus 100 starts to operate, a program depending onthe hardware of the titling apparatus 100, and the like. The flexibledisk drive 1550 retrieves a program or data from a flexible disk 1590and provides the hard disk drive 1540 and the communication interface1530 with it via the RAM 1520. The I/O chip 1570 connects the flexibledisk drive 1550 with various I/O apparatus via a parallel port, a serialport, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

A program executed by the CPU 1505 is stored in a recording medium suchas the flexible disk 1590, the CD-ROM 1595, or an IC-card and providedby a user. The program stored in the recording medium may be compressedor not. The program is installed in the hard disk drive 1540 from therecording medium, retrieved by the RAM 1520, and executed by the CPU1505.

The program executed by the CPU 1505 makes the titling apparatus 100perform functions of the image capturing unit 102, the recording unit104, the outputting unit 110, the captured image storing unit 210, theface image storing unit 212, the person to be captured deciding unit214, the viewer deciding unit 216, the voice storing unit 218, theoutput controlling unit 220, the output time acquiring unit 222, theperiod terminology storing unit 270, the period terminology selectingunit 272, the image capturing period judging unit 274, the imagecapturing time storing unit 276, the titling unit 282, the personalrelationship storing unit 284, the reference location storing unit 286,the region terminology storing unit 290, the region terminologyselecting unit 292, the image capturing region judging unit 294, and theimage capturing location storing unit 296.

The program described above may be stored in a recording medium of theoutside. An optical recoding medium such as a DVD, a PD, etc., amagneto-optical recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, and asemiconductor memory such as an IC card can be used as the recodingmedium in addition to the flexible disk 1590 and the CD-ROM 1595.Further, a storing apparatus such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in aserver system connected with a dedicated communication network andinternet may be used as the recording medium and may provide the titlingapparatus 100 with the program through the network.

Although the present invention has been described by way of exemplaryembodiments, it should be understood that those skilled in the art mightmake many changes and substitutions without departing from the spiritand the scope of the present invention which is defined only by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A titling apparatus for giving a title to acaptured image, comprising: a captured image storing unit for storing acaptured image; a personal relationship terminology storing unit forstoring terminology indicating a relationship of a plurality of persons;a person to be captured deciding unit for deciding a person to becaptured of the captured image stored by the captured image storingunit; an outputting unit for outputting the captured image stored by thecaptured image storing unit; a viewer deciding unit for deciding aviewer who views the captured image output by the outputting unit; atitling unit for giving a title including a term to the captured imagestored by the captured image storing unit, wherein the term is stored bythe personal relationship terminology storing unit to be correspondingto a relationship between the person to be captured decided by theperson to be captured deciding unit and the viewer decided by the viewerdeciding unit; and an output controlling unit for making the outputtingunit output the title given to the captured image by the titling unit aswell as the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit,wherein when the viewer decided by the viewer deciding unit is includedin a plurality of persons to be captured decided by the person to becaptured deciding unit, the titling unit gives a title indicating thatthe viewer is included in the captured image as a person to be capturedto the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit.
 2. Amethod for giving a title to a captured image, comprising: storing acaptured image in a captured image storing unit; storing terminologyindicating a relationship of a plurality of persons in a personalrelationship terminology storing unit; deciding a person to be capturedof the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit;outputting the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit;deciding a viewer who views the outputted captured image; giving a titleincluding a term to the captured image stored by the captured imagestoring unit, wherein the term is stored by the personal relationshipterminology storing unit to be corresponding to a relationship betweenthe decided person to be captured and the decided viewer; and outputtingthe title given to the captured image in addition to the captured imagestored by the captured image storing unit, wherein when the decidedviewer is included in a plurality of decided persons to be captured, thetitle given to the captured image stored by the captured image storingunit indicates that the viewer is included in the captured image as aperson to be captured.
 3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium onwhich is stored a program executable by a computer to perform a processfor giving a title to a captured image, the process comprising: storinga captured image in a captured image storing unit; storing terminologyindicating a relationship of a plurality of persons in a personalrelationship terminology storing unit; deciding a person to be capturedof the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit;outputting the captured image stored by the captured image storing unit;deciding a viewer who views the outputted captured image; giving a titleincluding a term to the captured image stored by the captured imagestoring unit, wherein the term is stored by the personal relationshipterminology storing unit to be corresponding to a relationship betweenthe decided person to be captured and the decided viewer; and outputtingthe title given to the captured image in addition to the captured imagestored by the captured image storing unit, wherein when the decidedviewer is included in a plurality of decided persons to be captured, thetitle given to the captured image stored by the captured image storingunit indicates that the viewer is included in the captured image as aperson to be captured.